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Promoting Safety for Indigenous Women

Indigenous Relations works in partnership with Indigenous women, communities, organizations and other government departments to promote and enhance the safety and well-being of Indigenous women and girls.

The department receives advice from Indigenous Women’s Councils on Economic Security on how best to promote social and economic opportunities for Indigenous women, It also supports campaigns and programs aimed at violence prevention and safety promotion, including:

Supporting the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls

The Moose Hide Campaign

I Am a Kind Man

National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls

On June 22, 2015, the Alberta government announced its support for the call for a National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women.

The Government of Canada launched a National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls in August 2016.

Alberta passed an Order in Council in September 2016, adopting the Terms of Reference for the Inquiry and the Commissioners of the Inquiry under its Public Inquiries Act and giving the Commission the ability to look into areas of provincial jurisdiction.

The Government of Canada launched a National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls in August 2016.

Violence against Indigenous women remains a serious concern that impacts all Albertans:

Indigenous women in Canada are disproportionately affected by violence and have a higher rate of victimization compared to non-Indigenous women, both in relation to spousal and non-spousal violence (Measuring Violence against Women: Statistical Trends 2013, Statistics Canada).

A 2014 RCMP report found that Indigenous women make up only 4 per cent of the population but make up 16 per cent of all murdered women on record. The number of missing and murdered Indigenous women is higher in the western provinces.

Alberta’s Family Information Liaison Unit will support families of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls during the Inquiry. This unit will act as a single point of contact for families to help navigate the provincial process, gather case specific information, connect families with Elders, collaborate with other province’s supports and gather information for families. (News Release) Alberta is a full and willing participant and will continue to provide full cooperation and support to the Inquiry. Indigenous Relations hosts bi-weekly information sharing sessions with government and community partners to share information and discuss how to best support Alberta families and loved ones.

Related Government of Alberta initiatives:

The government launched the Ministry of the Status of Women in 2015 and established a specialized Violence against Women and Girls Unit.

Indigenous Relations supported the Institute for the Advancement of Aboriginal Women to provide training on leadership and empowerment to Indigenous communities to support local youth.

Government funding increased for women’s shelters, providing approximately $49.8 million a year.

Moose Hide Campaign

The Moose Hide Campaign asks men to take a pledge to honour, respect and protect the women and girls in their lives. As a sign of this pledge, supporters wear a moose hide swatch to show their support for ending violence against Indigenous women and children.

Indigenous Relations and the Alberta Native Friendship Centre Association partnered in 2014 to launch the Moose Hide Campaign. Since then, more than 13,000 men in Alberta have taken the pledge.